Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-03-17
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
bI ACNA MIL ION KERR.
lCoFTRIonT. 1886, BY THE A. N. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER CoNPANY.l
CHAPTER xvnI.-ooxrrSurp

CHAPTER XvIII.-CoNrrNuEn
"Whcrc's her fatherP" he said as she
stood beside him.
Hes been away all evening hunting
for Maun," she said.
"And I've been idler' and he looked
at her in strained, strange way.
Then he mounted quickly and sent his
horse at headlong run through the
town, and came laundering across the
bridge by the mll-dam into the wood
lands. lie drew his horse up as he
reached the crest of the slope and
listened; whippoorwills were calling
down in the silent valley and some
night-birds were twittering in subdued
and dreamy notes about him; he could
scarcely hear them, his heart beat so.
A little way before him some men were
distInguishable in the road. He went
forward quickly, but Maun was not
there. Beyond them were other men,
and the girls father going about under
the trees, calling: "Maunl Mauni
MaunH' in an eager, wild. half-mourn-
ful way. The pale slashes of moon
light lit him up momentarily as they
fell through the boughs, and John
Earling saw that he was without q coat
or hat and his gray hair was shaken
about his white face. Springing from
his horse the young man went directly
TO him. At sight of his kind old em-
ployer's grief and fear and passion his
own trembling nerves at first seemed
20 vibrate with a shock and then grow
calm. The blood seemed to go along
his veins with kind of burning steadi.
ness, the steadiness that seemed al
ways TO come to John EarliDg with
anger, anger that was often little more
than fierce. pitiful sorrow. He laid
his hand on the old lawyers arm as he
reached him. ''What has been done
TO find herp" he asked, steadily.
The old attorney turned quickly and
peered into his face with an agony of
apprehensionmh IN his eyes. "Don't-don' I
you know where she is?n he asked. m
a tone that sounded piteous. coming
from this man who was always so
strong and bitter. 'No;" he went on,
without waiting for a reply, "you don't
know; but you'll find her, boy. you'll
find her for mel She's all I've got,
and meant her for you, / meant her
for your
For an instant John Earling was
shaken by this appeal; then he said. in
thick, calm voice; "What has been
done? Where have you searched?"
"Everywherel eUerWCherer ~ cried the
old man, with his clinched fists flung
mp and away from him and his eyes
lash.Ig." ''Ol o. if any one has
harmed her. boyl II any one has
louched hern-he ground the words
us they came through his teeth.
''Peace, sir; do not be violent; she
may not be alive" said the young man,
huskily, "then anger would defle youl
Wait awhile; she may yet be alive.
You had best 90 home and rest, sir. /
viii find her before morning and
bring her to you" He spoke so ten
herly 10 the distracted father that it
half dissolved his own fear and rage.
mo, no, no." said the old man, II
can't go home without her," and he
turned away under the trees and began
calling; "Maun! Maunl Maunr as he
went down through the brambles.
John Earling stood still in the sill
very gloom, and his blood thrilled and
he shuddered as he heard him call
Ing 30 lOnesOmely, 50 yearningly,
So fearfully along the silent river.
He went back into the road whore |
one of the men had caught his |
horse and was holding il At
that moment Absalom Heater came |
Etriding along the road. When he saw |
John Earnings white visage he stopped |
and grasped his hand. "We'll find |
her for yOu." he SAIL in a low voice. |
lie had seen John Earling with the old |
lawyers daughter at Joel's party. AMI |
somehow guessed that they were con
nected tenderly
Z" Have you seen her. or any one that |
might harm her. ABB" tho young man
asked.
'Was standin' IN the mill door bout
dusk, saw the girl cross the lower
bridge an ride up this way. Let's
seci there was number comm ont this |
way all farmers though; yes -ohl |
there was that mOnse-cOlored still tell |
cr that keeps the books At the store; he |
went up this way about the same time
The Miss did. -
John Earling gave a start, and |
quickly went galloping into |
the town and ran up the stairs 10 Fowl |
er's rooms above tho store. ES felt
shout ID the dark hall and found the
door and knocked. No one answered
ile called the man's name close 10 the
door. then putting his foot on the door
knob sprAng up and caught IN the tran
pom and pushing 1t open called the
mans name into the room, but all was
lre5tl;iessly sllli Then he went down /
and rode hard 10 tho woods aFain. ane /
~ the night llng pressed lAls nQr.s